The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-02
PRAISE FOR THE yICTORS
A Rousing Public Reception to the Light
Artillery and Light Infantry.
The Prize Winners Greeted With Cheers and
INSTRUMENTATION Remarks by Mayor
Denny, Congressman Bynum and Others.


As the noon train from Cincinnati drew into
the Union Depot yesterday, bringing in the tri-
umphant prize winners. the Light Artillery, the
old station resounded with the cheers with which
the victors were greeted, and the band struck
up $500 the Conquering Hero Comes" Mayor
Denny and representatives of various military
and civic organizations gave them enthusiastic
welcome. Captain Curtis was not with the Ar
tillery, having gone from Washington to New
York on private business The company, pre-
ceded by the band and the reception committee
marched to the Meridian Rink, heartily cheered
all along the line by crowds upon the sidewalks
They there broke ranks and dispersed to their
homes, where, doubt, even warmer and
fonder greetings were given them
Last evening at Tomlinsop Hall the Indian
apolis Light Infantry and the Light Artillery
were given formal public reception. Inc
armory of the Light Infantry is at Tomlinson
Hall, and the members of that company re-
manned there to receive the Artillery they
came from Meridian Rink, escorted by platoon
OF Metropolitan police under Captain Campbell
the tive companies of Uniform Rank r. of P,
under Captains Many and Richardson. the EN-
met Guards, the Indianapolis Rifles, the Rice
Zouaves and the Streght Rifles, headed by
the Union Band. The column under COM
mand OF Col N. r Ruckle, aud the field and
staff officers of the First Regiment Indiana
Light Artillery took part, in full uniform. When
the column escorting the light artillerymen ap-
peared at the head OF the stairs leading into
Tomlinson Hall, the Light Infantry, Captain
Ross commanding. drawn up in line to
receive thsir more fortunate comrades in arms,
and when the artilerists, led by Lieut.. c. l.. De
Witt, appeared. each of the boys with cluster
of loops of blue ribbon the left shoulder as
token that they had captured the first prize,
there was soldiery salute, followed by great
cheering
There was not as large an audience as there
would have been had there not been so dismal
and persistent downpour of rain, only about
one thousand persons being present and but few
ladies. Had the weather been better the hall
would have been crowded to the limit of its
capacity. All the companies took places upon
the platform, and Colonel Ruckle made brief
speech, welcoming the companies on behalf of
the citizens.
Mayor Denny next spoke He said the citi-
gems of Indianapolis ought to be proud of the
Light Infantry and the Light Artillery, and told
of the golden opinions from all sorts of people
that he had heard at Washington during and
after the drill. He said that the drill put up by
the Light Infantry was indeed fine one.
worthy Of praise, and that they stood sixth
among thirty~one competing companies showed
their merit He hoped that announcement
would be given to these encampments, that
Congress would vote money to aid them as he
believed in encouraging the soldierly spirit, and
In training men to arms, and said that the best
way to preserve peace In q nation was to be well
prepared for war;
Rev. J. A. Rondthaler. chaplain Of the Light
Artillery, spoke in behalf OF that organization.
His speech was bright and pleasant. He said
that the members OF the Light Artillery. true
citizens of this country, believing in the equal
ity of the races made no trouble about the
place they were assigned in the parade. They
did not care who marched before them. after
them, on the right flank or the left. They
held that in this nation all are equal; but when
IL came to the drill. they insisted on taking frat
place.
Major J. r. Ross, of the Light Infantry,
received with great applause as be came for
ward. He was not allowed to speak for more
than minute, the applause being taken up
again and again. He said the reception the
Light Infantry had received was very grateful to
him, az 1t was to all the boys; it showed that
they appreciated here at home in their
efforts to some reputation for themselves
and for the city of Indianapolis. r"
Ex-Mayor McMaster made very happy
speech, opening with an allusion to Oliver Haz-
ard Perry's victory OH Lake Erie and his laconic
dispatch I'VE have met the enemy and they are
ours-two ships. two briggs and schooner He
did not know about the ships and briggs as being
among the prizes of the Light Artillery, and he
would not say what he knew about the schooner.
They had won. and Indianapolis was proud of
them. She was no less proud of the Light In
fantry, which holds as warm place in the hearts
cltlZ6nB
In Indianapolis They entered into competition
with thirty other companies. drawn from all
over the United States, the best in a nation of
over sixty millions of people. and the Light In
fantry stood six tn in the list. Most of these
companies are supported by their States. or cit
les or by wealthy individuals. while the Light
Infantry receives no support from any source.
but maintain themselves and they are men on a
salaries, with slender means
Hon. W. d. Bynum was the next speaker. He
said be heartily rejoiced with the citizens of In
diAnADOliR
organizations. During the encampment he had
mingled with the members of both companies,
and he felt that he was member of each rather
than friend and townsman rejoicing in their
success. Although the Light Infantry did not
win, had it not been for unfortunate acct
dent, for which no member of the company or
she captain was to blame, they might have stood
at the head of the list He said he heartily
favored every encouragement and aid that could
be given to build up the militia, both by the
State and Nation. and If he could accomplish
anything, aid in doing so, he would cheerfully
and heartily do SO at the coming session Of Con-
gress.
Captain Kelleher. of the Emmett Guards, said
Indianapolis had every reason to feel proud of
the two companies. They deserved all the
rouragement the city and State give them,
and his wish and hope was that each succeeding
contest would give them fresh victories.
Mayor Denny. the meeting evidently being
about ready to draw to close, approached the
edge of the platform. and, with great suavity,
asked if there was any citizen present who de-
sired to say anything. colored man in
the audience who said he had something to say,
and when asked his name, gave the wild, weird
appellation of Smith. When he was brought
upon the platform the name of Smith was plainly
q msft. Everybody saw at once that he
Brudder Gardner, of the Lme-kiln Club, and
that he like the hero of Lake Erie. had been in
q naval engagement-with n schooner-that he
had met the enemy, and he his'n. The
Union Band, which had been sandwiching music
in between the speeches, here did the best
service of the evening" and the exercises came to
q close.
PERSONAL AND SOCIETY.